Mining machine



Aug. 17 1926.

C. W. WYMAN MNING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1922 Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

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CHARLES V7. WYMAN,.OF CLAREMCN'NEV HAMPSHIRE,'ASSIGNOR T()-A SULLIVAN LIACHINERY COMPANY, A COARORTGN OF IEIASSACHUSETTS.

MINING MACHINE.

Application filed `September 1, 1922. Serial Nb. 585,643.

My invention relates to mining machines. lt has for its object to provide an improved safety device for a mining machine. A' further Objectis to provide an improved cutter chain'disconnecting means, and more especially an improved disconnecting means for a cutter chain'on a coal. mining machine of the self propelled flexibly fed type. A still further object is to provide an improved l@ means for automatically disconnecting the cutter chain clutch while loadingv Asuch a machine onto its self propelled truck. These. and other objects and advantages of my invention will, however, hereinafter more fullyV appear.

in the accompanying drawings 1 have shown for purposes of illustration two 'embodiments which my invention may assume inl practice.

2U 1n these drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mining machine in process of loading on its self propelled truck and equipped vwith my im- 2 provemcnt, the loaded position of the mining machine being indicated by dotted` lines.

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical sectional View taken substantially on line 2 2 F ig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 F ig. 1. "l Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of a portion of my improved mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modified form of my invention.

In this illustrative construction, I have shown a mining` machine ofthe usual room and pillar type including a frame 1 slidable over the mine bottom and having a projecting cutter bar 2 carrying an endless bit carrying cutter chain 3, the cutter chain 4? being driven in a well known manner from a motor 4 on the-'frame through a` suitable driving mechanism (not shown) connected to the cutter chain sprocket- 5. Herein, as in a usual construction, iiexible feeding means inthe form of'a'chain 5 isalso adapted to use in 'feeding the minii'ig machine relative to the face of the mine and *to be driven from afs'uitable feed operating Vmer'nber 7, driven in 'a wellik-nownmannerfrointhe' motor 4. Them'i'ning machine 'l'fis"Y also' shown to be 'adapted to be 'fmounted 'on "awheel truck including a machinefgu'iding frame t8 anddriv'en' from the mining 'machine motor in a, well lmown manner, elec-'tricf'currentf being supplied to the motor through a'cable reel 9 on the. truck.

Referring more particularly to the cutter chai-n drive it will be noted that between the sprocket 5 and the driving means therefor is interposed a clutch member comprising a usual stationary clutch member 10 rotatable with the cutter chain'drive sprocket 5 and a cooperating clutch member 1l having lingers 12 adapted to cooperate withr suitable notches 13 in the'm'ember 10. As'

in a usual constructiom-it will also be observed that this member 11 is provided with controlling lever mechanism including a control lever 14 pivoted to the frame at 15 at its inner through an 'adjustable link 16 with `a cooperating lowerfork link 17 pivotally connected to the member 16 at 18 and pivot-ed on the frame at 19 and having` 'its inner ends operatively engaging lateral pins 2O on upstanding extensions on the opposite sides of the member 11, the mechanism cooperating in such a manner as to raise or lower the member as the lever 14 is moved up or down about its pivot. As the specific construction of this clutch does not itself enter into my invention and is of a well known type it is believed that a more detailed description is unnecessary. i The control lever 14 is also provided with a reduced portion v21 on its outer end which portion extends through,

' and is movable, herein vertically, in a plurality of apertures 22 and 23, herein substantially circular in form, in the side wall of the frame, and connected b v a vertically disposed slot 24 of uniform cross section. It will be observed thatthis'reduced portion 21 carries slidably thereon an operating member 25, the outer end of'vvhich is suitably recessed at 26 and carries within said `recess a coiled spring 27.V Asshown, this member also has a cylindrical extension 28 adapted to lit in the openings 22 and 23 in'theframe 1, andthe same isV furtherprovided` with an'enlarged grip or "engaging portion 29 adapted tobe gripped manually by'theioperator. AA retainingwasher. 30 is' also provided on i the-'reducedportion-.2l 'to retain the `spring27 inplace and toprevent `dirt,`or".the like, from interferingwith the `action of the spring.

ln my improved'construction it will be Yobser'veel'-tlratia nain" member? 31' Lris'carriedvon.

end and pivotally connected a suitable upstanding support 32 located on the side ot' the trame 8 and adjacent the handle 25, said support being herein bowed laterally at Set to permit passage ot the feed chain over its idler This member 31 is provided with a beveled edge 36 adapted to engage the operating member 25 on rearward movement oi the machine l in its truck trame tor example during the machine loading operation. @n said member 3l and extending rearwardly and outwardly from said beveled edge 86 is also an engag ing surface 37 which against the action ot spring 27, forces the cylindrical extension 2S from the aperture 22 in such manner as to release the control llever trom the trame l. Leading rearwardly and downwardly from the surface 37 is also a surface 38 which engages the member 25 and forces the same downwardly, the portion 2l passing freely through the slot connectingthe two apertures and r gistering with the lower aperture thereby releasing the clutch mechanism and stopping the cutter chain.

The operation o't my improved device is as tollows. rllhe flexible feeding member is attached to a suitable abutment at the rear end ot the transport truck and the mining machine is drawn up onto the truck by means of the feed operating membe: 7 in a well known manner. lt the cutting mechanism is running, the clutch operating mem-- ber 25 is locked in its upper or on position. As the machine is loaded onto the truck the clutch operating member engages the bevel edge ot' the cam mem er 3l and the clutch operating member is forced outwardly by the cam surface 37 drawing the cylindrical extension 2S on the member 25 against the action of the spring 27 from the aperture 22 on the machine :trame l. As the machine continues its backward movement the downwardly extended cam surface 38 'forces the lever A, with the operating member 25, downwardly through the vertically disposed slot 2li into registration with the aperture 23 thereby forcing the fingers l2 out of the notches 13 and stopping the cutter chain. The machine is then in position to be driven trom the room. liVhen the mining machine is to be unloaded the flexible feeding means 6 is attached to a suitable point in advance of the truck and the machine is drawn outwardly, releasing the operating member 25 from the cam 8l, allowing the actionv of the spring 27 to Jtorce the cylindrical extension 28 into engagement with the lower aperture 23, and locking the lever lil and the clutch in oil position. To start the cutter chain, the operating member 25 must be manually pulled out from the aperture 23 and moved up through the slot 24e to its clutch connect ing position.

ln Fig. it will. be observed that l have shown a modied form or mechanism 'for preventing the operator trom leaving the main clutch thrown in. the support 32 there is here mounted a switch, generally indicated by the numeral 3S and comprising an engaging portion il), normally held in operative position by a spring' el, adapted to eng. e the operating member 25 when in operative position, this when Vthe machine moves rearwardly on the truck. This member 25 forces the portion l0 rearwardly and as this said portion is pivotally connected, as at to a crank 43 termed on a knife switch t controlling the machine motor circuit, this rearward movement oi the member l0 throws out the knife switch stopping the motor and further movement oit the mining machine until the member 28 is manully pulled outwardly anc. downwardly through the slot 24 and into the aperture- 23, thereby throwing out the main clutch. in this position the motor may again be started and the machine fully loaded on the tr ck, the operating member 25 passing under the switch 39.

As a result ot' my improvement it will be observed that the cutter chain is automatiV cally disconnected or rendered inoperative during the loading operation in such manner as to eliminate the injuries to roperators and the damage to the machines which have heretofore been brought about, myV invention making it impossible for a forgetful operator to leave the cutter chain clutch in after leading the machine on the truck, stop the motor until the jacks and slack chain have bee piled yon the cutter bar, and then start the motor to drive the truck out of the room with the cutter chain clutch still com nected. lt will also be observed that in the mecha ical form 'ci my invention, it is made impossible for the cutter chain to start prematin-ely while the machine is being unloaded, theV clutch being maintained out until the machine moves Jrorward on the truck and even then being automatically locked in out position so that the chance ot prematurely rotating the cutter chain is minimized.

have in this application specitlcally described two embodiment-s which my invention may assume in practice it will be understood that these terms are shown tor illustrative purposes only and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

lhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

l. ln a mining apparatus, a mining machine adapted to slide on a mine bottom having cutting mechanism, a track adapted to receive said machine, and means for automatically rendering said cutting mechanism inoperative as said machine is moved rela-IV tive to said truck, f

meeste 2. Ina mining? apparatus, agniining ma-y chine Ladapted 'to slide on a? mmeE bottom hav# ing cutting mechanism, a truc-lzl adapted toslide on'a mine vbottom having cutterchain driving means said.'machine' being-4 movable ontosaid truck, andautomatic meansto disconnect said driving -meansonf movement-of` said machine relative to said truc-k.

4; In a mining'-apparatus, a vmining machine adapted to slideon a in'i1i'e`-bottoni having a clutch",` struck 1 adapted 'to' receive said' machine, andfmean's .for'automatically disconnecting said 5 clutch assaid?` machine moves relative to said truck.

5.?. InA a mining'apparatus, a vmining inachineadaptedto slid'e'onra mine bottom`- having-*acutter'ch'ainand afclutclrtherefor, a

truck adapted to receive Vsaid machine, and meanslcarr-ied by sardt'ruck to throw out said clutch as said machine movesl rela-tive 6.: In aminingfa paratu's, a-mining machine adapted toslic e' cna-minebottom having-a cutterchain'an'da clutch therefor, a truck-adapted to receive said mining ma-l chine, Aand''automaticmeans toydisconnect l said-clutch onv movementfofs'aid machine on said truck. f

7. In a'miningapparatus, a mining-machine h'aving cutt therefor, andloclmgl'm'eans for'said clutch,

a mining machine carrying truck,and V'means carried by' saidftruck to release saidl lockingm'eans I v 8; In -a -nrining4 apparatus, a-mining machine having/cutting me'chanism, ay clutch therefor, spring controll'ed lockinguneans for said Iclutch, a-- mining f machine carrying truck, and means carried by said truck to release said-:locking l'mea-ns;

9. In a mining apparatus, a mining machine having cutting mechanism, av clutch therefor, spring controlled locking means for said clutch including apertures in said machine, a mining machine carrying truck, and means carried by said truck to release said locking means.

10. In a mining apparatus, a mining machine having a continuous cutter chain,

driving means therefor, and a clutch interposed between said cutter chainandv said driving means, a mining machine receiving` truck, and means carried by said truck to automatically disconnect said clutch to stop `said cutter chain.

11. In a mining apparatus, a mining machine having a cutter chain, a cutter chain driving sprocket, a 'clutch therefor, operating Ameans for said clutch, and locking ing'-mechanism, ay clutclr meansfor said 1 operating i rneanaf a mining chine havingv a continuous cutterf chain,- a cutter-chain drive/sprocket, driving means for said sprocket, ya clutch interposed between said elrivingineans an'dsai'd sprocket, operating means fory said clutch andy locking. means for said operating means,1a machine carrying truck, and means carried by said' truck to automatically releasesaid locking'` means v.and operate said` operz'itingmeans;`

14; In av mining apparatus,- a miningimachine having a continuons cutter chain-f andfa clutch' therefor and-flexible feeding means.- including a-fleXible-feeding member, artrucl; adapted to receive ksaid mining machine, and automatic meansl to release-said clutch'as the Y mining machine moves relative to said truck along' said-'feeding means.' A

15, In a mining apparatus,amining Vm-a'- 95 chine having. acutter: chain and a;-clutch`=` therefor, a truck adapted to receive:saidma-4 chine, and afcam carried :by said truck and adapted to disconnect said clutch as said' machine moves relative to` said truck.

16; In a mini-ng apparatus, ay miningmachine having a cutter 'chain and a clutchy therefor, a truck adapted to receive said machine, and means including angularly disposed cam surfaces carried byy said truck 1.05

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and adapted to Ydisconnect said clutch as said machine moves relative to said truck.

17. In amining apparatus, a mining machine 'hiaving l cuttingmechanisnmA a truck adaptedeto receive :said: machine',and a cam 11o carried bysa'id truckfor automatically` rendering said cutting mechanism inoperative as said machine is moved relative to said truck. l

18.- In a mining apparatus, a mining ma- 11.5 chine having a cutter chain, a clutch therefor, operating means for said clutch, and spring controlled locking means for said operating means, a mining machine truck, and cam means thereon to automatically overlao come said `spring controlled locking means and release said clutch on rearward movement of said machine on said truck.

19. In a mining apparatus, a mining machine having cutting mechanism and a clutch therefor, clutch operating means, and locking means for said operating means normally locked in an aperture in said machine, a mining machine receiving truck, and a cam carried by said truck to automatically reclutch on movement ot the mining machine on said truck.

21. In a mining apparatus, a mining ma chine having a clutch and locking means for said clutch, a mining machine receiving truck, and cam engageable with an element ot said locking means to release the same and automatically throw out said clutch onv movement of the mining machine on said truck. l

22. In a mining apparatus, a mining machine having cutting mechanism, a tiiielr adapted to receive said mining machine, and means'for automatically rendering said cutting mechanism inoperative as the mining machine moves relative to said truck having provision for retaining the same inoperative while said machineis on said truck.

23. In a mining apparatus, a mining machine having cutting mechanism and a clutch therefor, and pivoted adjustable operating means for saidclutch, a mining machine re.- ceiving truck, and a cam carried by said truck to automatically actuate said operating means to disconnect said clutch on movement ot the mining machine on said truck.

24. In a mining apparatus, a mining machine having a cutting mechanism and a clutch therefor, operating means for said clutch, and locking means for said operating means includin' a member disposable in slot connected apertures in said mining machine,

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a mining machine receiving truck, and cam means operative on rear vai'd movement oi said machine on said truck and carried by said truck for automatically releasing said member from one oic said apertures and torc- 1,59e,ese

o ing saidA operating means through said slot and said member into registration with the other aperture. Y

25. In a mining` apparatus, a mining machine having a cutting mechanism and a clutch therefor, operating 'means for said clutch, and locking means for the latter 'incliidingalspring controlled member on lsaid operating means and slot vconnected apertures in said machine, a'mining machine receiving truck, and a cam carried by said truck and operativek to release said `spring controlled member "from one'aperture and torce said operating means downward through the slot into registering position with the other apertureon rearward movevnient ot said machine on sai release said spring controlled member on forward movement of said VVmachine on said' 26. In a mining apparatus, a mining machine having cutting mechanism, ka clutch therefor, locking means for said clutch, and manual and automatic means including a common element forrendering said clutch inoperative.

. liiining apparatus comprising, in combination, a supporting truck, a mining machine coinprising cutting mechanism 'and adapted in one position on said ,truck to1 drive the latter, and means Vtor automatically preventing drive ot' said cutting mechanism when lsaid machine is in said position.

28. Mining apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, cutting mechanism driven thereby, a supporting truck on whichsaid motor and said cutting mechanism are transd truck and to ,o

ported, said motor being operative to effect propulsion of said truck, and means for automatically preventing drive ot said cut ting mechanism by said motor when said cutting mechanismoccupies a predetermined o position on said truck. p Y Y In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

CHARLES W. VVYMAN. 

